Entering The Freeway â€“ Florida Traffic School Online Course

Entering The Freeway

Freeways, also called expressways, turnpikes, highways, or what we like to call “The Zoo”, can give you a fast, safe way to get where you need to go without the need for constant stopping. You have three points to access the freeway, the entrance ramp, the acceleration lane and a merging area.

If you need to use the freeway from the side road or access road, use your turn signal to alert drivers. As you enter the ramp, using your side view mirror be sure and look for an opening in traffic before you begin to merge with other traffic. Glance over your shoulder to check your blind spot. Adjust your speed in the acceleration lane to merge into traffic when itâ€™s safe to do so.

Traffic already on the freeway has the right-of-way. Don’t take it from them. Do not count on the freeway traffic to allow you in but do not stop on the entrance ramp or acceleration lane unless traffic is too heavy and you are not allowed in.

The freeway usually contains two, three or four lanes. Use the right lane for slower speeds and preparing to exit. Watch for traffic entering the highway, if it’s safe, move to a center lane to allow traffic to enter. Even though you have the right-of-way remember its a given not a taken. You have better vision and can see them better. They have to rely on their mirrors or looking over their shoulder. The middle lanes should be used for regular cruise speeds. The left lane is the fast lane and should only be used to pass slower moving traffic. Once you have passed traffic return to the middle lane.

In some states it is a ticket-able a offense to cruise in the fast lane. If an HOV lane is present you may only use it when you have passengers and you can only enter and exit at certain points. Most HOV lanes also allow motorcycles to use them even though there is a single rider.

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**This course fulfills the requirements of the Basic Driver Improvement Course (BDI) the Traffic Collision Avoidance Course (TCAC) and Insurance reduction. This course can also be taken voluntarily to brush up on your driving skills.**